Written By
James B Fagan
Where and When
25th – 28th October 1995 @ The Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne
The Plot
A charming and scintilating comedy concerning Samuel Pepys, who calls on Mistress Knight but is forced to hide in a closet because of a visit to the fascinating lady by Charles II.
Cast
- Sue, one of Samuel Pepys’ maids – Karen Wyatt
- Jack, Samuel Pepys’ manservant – Jeremy Austin Jnr
- Samuel Pepys – Jeremy Austin
- Doll, his cook – Eileen Dunnachie
- Mistress Knight – Jan Stevenson
- Watchman – Neil Small
- Julia, Mrs Knight’s waiting woman – Margaret Pope
- Pelling, an apothecary – Howard Lovejoy
- Robert, his boy – Robert Franklin
- Pelham Humfrey – Mike Dodds
- William Caesar – Stan Butler
- Mistress Pierce – Chrissie Wathen
- Mistress Knepp – Pam Feltham
- Mistress Pepys – Carolyn Hewitt
- Lettice, her maid – Ann Pond
- Prodgers, Groom of the Bedchamber – Joe Brooks
- Charles II – Richard Neal
Crew
- Director – Enid Davies
- Stage Manager – Jenny Tempier
- On the Book – Barry Baynton
- Set Construction and Decor – Joe Brooks, Michael Benton, Muriel Brooks, Eddie Colton, Guy Dance, Enid Davies, Philip Evans and Barry Hill
- ASMs – Eddie Colton, Salliann Colton, Rebecca Gunnell, Ann Pond, Neil Small and Karen Wyatt
- Properties and Make-up – The Company
- Music Composed and Arranged by – Francis Davies
- Synthesized by – Edward Austin
- Sound and Light – Nick Watkins and Mark Lockyear
- Callboy – Matthew Gill
- Photography – Eddie Colton
- Programme and Publicity – Richard Neal and Peter Timperly
Gallery
Reviews
Doesn’t rest easy
Glorious costumes no matter how foppish, do not a successful Restoration comedy make.
Although a fake Restoration piece (it was first performed in 1926) And So To Bed requires something more than enthusiasm and cscading perriwigs. The company fell foul of a poor set, loose direction and reliance on tapes for what should have been almost a period musical. In the end, a lively nudge nudge romp was a drawn-out affair enlivened by a few good performances.
Jeremy Austin as Pepys did well to command the stage for almost all of the three acts, but was an unconvincing man of words, music and affairs of the heart.
Carolyn Hewitt as Pepys’ wife had difficulty in remembering her French accent. She had a lovely scene with the King, played in fine strutting style by Richard Neal but who came across as more Likely Lads than royalty.
Jan Stevenson as the temptress Mistress Knight was the best of the main characters, but we were never going to believe in a love affair with the King.
Chrissie Wathen and Pam Feltham as Mistresses Pierce and Knepp deserved praise as did Margaret Pope as Julia. mike Dodds was glorious as the foppish Pelham Humphrey, but had few to play to – on stage or in the audience.
Programme
